Solstice

Time to celebrate the return of the light, on this longest night of the year. I can tell you when I lived in the Arctic this was the most celebrated day of the year, next to summer solstice. The shortest and darkest, when time stands still. The beginning of fresh hope.

Now that I live farther south, I see it goes by unnoticed by most. Many cultures and religions have taken note of this day from ancient times. Stonehenge comes to mind. The perfection of the light shining through the enormous rock exactly in the opposite direction as it does on Summer Solstice.

Great mysteries, whose answers may never be known. Basking in the moment, the turning point, new longer days to come. I have spent my evening listening to Adagio which has seemed like a prelude to the coming of light. Leaving behind the old, walking out of the night.

In the bleak mid-winter Frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, Snow on snow, In the bleak mid-winter, Long ago.~Christmas Carol